Biological Dad Abdulfattah Jandali Has No Comment on Jobs' Death

Steve Jobs' biological father Abdulfattah John Jandali, a casino executive in Reno, Nev., on Wednesday told the media he knew his estranged son had died but would not be talking about it.

I really don't have anything to say, said John Jandali, 80, to the Reno Gazette-Journal. I know the news.

Jandali is a vice president at Boomtown Hotel Casino and a was once a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Apple announced on Wednesday night that Jobs had died. He wad 56 years old. Jobs' family also confirmed his passing, saying he died peacefully and was surrounded by his family. However, they didn't say what the cause of death was. Apple didn't say either, but Jobs has publicly battled pancreatic cancer for years. He also had to have a liver transplant.

In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family, the statement read. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.

Jobs was born in San Francisco on Feb. 24, 1955, to Joanne Carole Schieble and Jandali. They were a young, unmarried couple and put the baby up for adoption. He was taken by Paul and Clara Jobs of Mountain View, Calif.

Jandali told The Sun, a British tabloid, in August that he wanted to meet his estranged son.

I live in hope that before it is too late he will reach out to me, Jandali told the newspaper. Even to have just one coffee with him just once would make me a very happy man.

Jobs didn't respond to Jandali's public request for a reunion.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that in September, Jandali told it the interview with The Sun was a mistake, and that at the he wouldn't publicly discuss Jobs again.

The Reno paper also reported that when Jandali learned that Jobs was stricken with a rare form of pancreatic cancer he mailed his son his medical history in hopes that it might help, Jandali's friends in Reno said in August.

The Reno paper added that the British tabloid also reported that Jandali's Syrian pride stood in the way of him directly connect with jobs.

This might sound strange, though, but I am not prepared, even if either of us was on our deathbed, to pick up the phone to call him, Jandali reportedly told the Sun.Steve will have to do that as the Syrian pride in me does not want him ever to think I am after his fortune. I am not. I have my own money. What I don't have is my son ... and that saddens me.